Spam Alert

Enzie Shahmiri · 02-05-2008, 02:59 PM

I just received this Email and after a quick on-line check found it to be a spam. It looks like these crooks are making their rounds again:

Quote:

Hello there,
It is my great pleasure to contact you regarding your
portraits placed for sale at http://www.portraitartist.com Please, i
would like to make a purchase as i'm really interested in it. Let me
know if it still available for sale and it's present
condition, and send me pics. is as gift as a surprise for my friend on
his wedding ceremony,as for the Shipping i will take care
of that through a pick up .

Thank you and i look forward to your reply.
Perez Moore.

Note: I need to choose two of it including the prices

"Whoever uses the spirit that is in him creatively is an artist"
Perez Moore [[email protected]]

Just thought I might alert everyone!

Michele Rushworth · 02-05-2008, 04:09 PM

I got the same email.

Chris Saper · 02-05-2008, 08:36 PM

Me, too. Anything suspicious like that I independently Google the sender, and sure enough, Perez came up as a scam.

Heidi Maiers · 02-06-2008, 01:45 AM

Yep, got mine too. I'm sure everyone on the main site got a copy.Good to put out the warning Enzie - just in case there is anyone left on the planet that has not seen these and might be fooled by them.

This type of lowlife scam is super easy to spot. I have been getting them daily for years. Here's a few things to look for - two or more of these and it's a definite scam that should just be deleted.

1. They never use or know your name.
2. The sender always has a free email address. Almost always yahoo.com or yahoo.uk.co
3. They want to buy one of your particular pieces, but then ask you to send photos so they can choose one of your pieces. They never mention any details about a specific work of yours.
4. English is never their first language (poor use of grammar)
5. They always mention payment methods - if this early on they mention payment by check, it's always check fraud scam and they usually add that you can cash it right away!
6. If they mention 3rd party shippers, then it's always the check fraud scam where they send overpayment for the shipping and you end up losing the difference.
7. They are always in a hurry

Another popular scam targets people who teach. Same check fraud scam. Usually, they say their "son" is coming for a holiday to "your area" and they want to pay for several weeks of lessons upfront (of course again they have no clue who you are, where you live, or what subject you teach).

Enzie Shahmiri · 02-07-2008, 02:40 AM

Chris, I googled the name as well and found a warning on Artslant. I just think the best defense for us is in passing along the knowledge as soon as these guys get active.

Julie Deane · 02-09-2008, 11:48 AM

Good Info, Enzie.

Be aware that your name and a specific art piece can be used.

I occasional receive emails expressing interest in one particular artwork's availability. It's always the same artwork, it's similar wording, and it shows up in the "spam" section of my email.
After wasting my time researching one contact person (fictional addresses and phone numbers) I figure that anyone legit can easily look up my phone number and contact me directly.

I like one artist's approach: he tells potential customers that he will be happy to send them the artwork after the check clears their bank, apologizing but stating that it is necessary because of all these spams and schemes.

Michele Rushworth · 02-09-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

he tells potential customers that he will be happy to send them the artwork after the check clears their bank,

It's not sufficient to wait until your bank tells you the check has "cleared". Many banks will say that within a few days. Then they call you a few weeks later to tell you it was a fraudulent check.

Enzie Shahmiri · 02-09-2008, 09:13 PM

Julie

Quote:

...necessary because of all these spams and schemes...

Yup, that's pretty funny.

Michele, you bring up such a good point.

All these pitfalls we have to navigate through....

Julie Deane · 02-10-2008, 08:00 AM

You're right about that, Michelle. The artist said to wait until it clears THEIR bank, although I'm not sure if the bank will release that information or not. I would think a bank check might be better.

Enzie Shahmiri · 02-13-2008, 06:31 PM

As of Feb 13, 08 another spam...

Quote:

I am Cameron steve i will like to order your artwork as a Gifts for my parents who are celebrating thier 30th Wedding Annivasary in Manchester Month end. i will be glad if you can forward 3 of your artworks to me withing the price of $1500 to $2000 either Lanscape,watercolour or Painting so that i can choose within them and about shipping i have a shipper that will come for pick up from your location, i will let you know later about that.payment will be by credit card for charging.

i will be happy if you can do this for me asap

hope to hear from you soon

regard

cameron

I am afraid with all these spammers I am going one day to pass on the real thing! LOL